Compare towns
Ashland vs Northbridge vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashland | Northbridge | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873Highest |
16,458 |
15,277Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.5±3.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Swampscott and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
| Ashland and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 24% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$7,936Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Northbridge | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Northbridge High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
10.8Lowest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.